Hamas considered 'cancelling 7 October' attack if Israel honoured agreements

Al Jazeera’s investigation exposes secret documents that detail Hamas' intentions and the conditions under which they would have abandoned the 7 October 2023 attack. According to the documents, the plan included a clause that would allow Hamas to cancel the operation if Israel honored previous agreements with the Palestinian group.

The investigation revealed meeting records from the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, in the months leading up to the attack. A meeting on 11 February 2023 discussed the operation, codenamed Project Fahd. The meeting stated that the plan would be abandoned if Israeli attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque and in prisons ceased.

The decision to proceed with the operation was reportedly made due to Israeli violations, including the brutality at Al-Aqsa and the treatment of prisoners, as well as the lack of progress in political negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.